Making the Case That 2022 Team > 2021 Team

Legitimately concerned about the defense given what we lose and the weak spots (LBs, DTs and CBs) those guys helped covered up. A second year of MacDonald should help a bit I suppose.

On offense we could be absolutely explosive if JJ takes over with basically no roster weaknesses. Generally, I'd take an explosive offense with a playmaker QB over a very good defense, so I think the question is just how good can the O be and will the D tread water.

Just like the 2021 team, we won't know until we know and see how the team plays. This was a special team that did special things that the vast majority of us didn't expect. Next year could be a repeat of '21 or a total bust. 

But that's my take on it. 

People are missing the obvious - the coaches need to take a step up next season.  Gattis will not catch anyone off guard next year.  While playcalling was great - at times, GA showed we are nowhere near elite in playcalling either. Mac needs to figure out how to stop an improved OSU team, an MSU team that has our number, and elite SEC teams we can’t seem to stop scoring drive after drive.  We lose critical players.  We need new leaders to emerge and carry us. A lot has to happen and it ain’t all luck.  This is why the Saban run is so darn phenomenal.  You got to be great 365 days a year.  

JH will almost be forced to start JJ next year. I think its evident that he has the potential to be a superstar and a 1st rd draft pick. If he doesnt start in 22 its almost a guarantee he hits the transfer portal. I don't believe JH wants to lose this kid nor should he. He'll have a full 1.5 years in the program by next fall. No reason he shouldn't know the entire playbook in that time. He's gotta play to get the game experience (hot take i know) but with a soft non con schedule to start the year we should be fine taking some inexperienced mistakes to start the season and by the time conference play starts JJ will be just fine and the unquestionable starter.

I think the offense will be better and more explosive, but I think the defense takes a big step back and they were pretty good but not elite so they'll be more average. I'm excited to think how good our offense can be (please have consistent playcalling) with the weapons on the outside, pretty good TEs and RBs with elite skillsets and explosion.

I think we'll be pretty damn good.

Have to find some more speed at the LB position 

Offense should be solid.  I fully expect JJ to take the lead. 

It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine 

I actually think the defense will perform better next year. Obviously there’s not going to be a heisman finalist (I think) on the defense but I think down to down we’ll be better. The main reason for this thinking is that the middle of the defense is going to improve the most. 
 

We’ll see the defensive tackles take another step up, along with our highly rated depth (Benny, Rooks) likely becoming playable along with Jenkins and Welschoff. 
 

Harrell and Morris seem like guys who are ready to level up and both offer IMMENSE versatility in how they can be deployed. Harrell has more than enough juice to be a good pass rusher and he can do linebacker things. Morris has the ability to kick inside and set the edge. Other rotational guys should make an impact rushing the passer too. MacGregor, Bennett, Guy, and the top 100 recruit should be able to jump in and contribute in that aspect as well. 
 

The linebackers are going to be better than they were this year. We’ll probably see the biggest jump here. Hill-Green is a facsimile for Ross right now and this was his first year seeing the field, so he should be trending up. Colson is going to take a major leap with all the snaps he got this year. Then you have guys like Barrett, Keon Sabb, maybe Jordan Morant who will be to be used and effective in a hybrid space player like role. 
 

Safety in this defense seems like a very cerebral spot and one that really relied on speed. Moten, Moore, Zeke Barry are all plus athletes. For Moten and Moore, having a year in the defense is going to be immensely valuable. If you think of it in terms of time in the scheme, they’ll have more reps than Hawkins and Hill did on the back end under MacDonald. 
 

So, to me, when you factor in the experience that all of these guys got, and the experience Mac got as a first time DC, we should see better calls, we should see more creative pressures, we should see a more versatile defense and one that performs better on a down to down basis while still performing as a bend don’t break defense. I also didn’t even mention all the GOOD incoming DBs, and another year of development for Turner and the rest of the guys on the roster. 

The defense was great mostly because of Hutch and Ojabo’s ability to generate pressure without bringing extra blitzers. I don’t think the 2022 team will be able to bring enough pressure without bringing an extra guy or two. We’ll see. 

One thing I like about JJ - he seems to get it.  The kid does the little things, ie stays on the field yesterday watching Georgia celebrate with Edwards.  He does the off-season workouts nobody talks about.  He is a born leader.  Is he enough to will this team in 2022? Don’t know.  But the work started today.  Will Harbaugh give him the reigns? 

I honestly am not certain our defense will be THAT much worse.  I know losing Hutch, Ross and Hill hurts.  But I also feel this was Mike Mac's first year ever calling plays.  He has shown his self scout is damn good.  Not to mention if he really wants to install an NFL style defense he may not have everything in yet.  Also, the players that ARE coming back are in their second year in the system as well.  On offense, Ryan Hayes needs to be much improved.  But I also wonder if in the event we swing Conerly does he work his way into playing.  Freshmen have played on olines before, it's not impossible.  This off-season will be huge for JJ.  Can he take the next step?  Or does Cade improve and take full control of the role?  Everywhere else I'm not worried.  It all starts right now in the weight room and that sign thats been there because we all know OSU isn't going anywhere and they will be zeroed in on that game.  It also starts on the road recruiting.  Harbaugh needs to be honest and realize we need more studs.  Getting the same type of guys we have gotten isn't gonna cut it against the elites.  You've shown you can make it, now take the next step.  Build this step by step.

Competitive is all I ask for.  We were competitive in every game except for Georgia.  

If anything, I hope Georgia has taught us what it means to play against that type of speed and physicality.  And maybe we can start to build our team to match that.

They will be better because of this success and experience:

You can (and cogently do) make the argument that we will improve at the majority of positions.  My concern is that the outstanding pass rush duo we had in 2021 covered up a decent but not great secondary, which we saw exposed somewhat last night.  As others have said, we'll need to make up for a lesser defense with a better offense next year.  The O Line will be the key, as we certainly have the horses at the skill positions.  

All fair points. Haskins never fumbled once in his entire career at Michigan. His ability to get a yard or 2 out of nothing, blocking and his patience will be very hard to replace. Corum and Edwards are explosive but we need a bruiser for this style. 

Can't believe Hutchinson, Haskins, ojabo , Ross , hill etc have played their last game in a winged helmet. What a great group of Michigan men! 

We have the tools to do great things in 2022. The best feeling, We have young hungry coaches that have everything  to prove. We aren't a one trick pony like the don brown years. So many freshman stepped up and played valuable minutes and started add this years class of talent + transfer portal. It's going to be a long off season , for all the right reasons! 

Thoughts? I guarantee the next 10 years of Michigan football will be better than the last 10 years of Michigan football

The offense, with McCarthy at QB and every one else a year older,will be better and maybe much better. The defense will almost certainly take a bit of a step back, but if not too far back they will again have a chance to be very good. I can’t wait for the season to start.

Still a lot of moving pieces before fall camp. For example, I have heard rumors that Michigan is looking at Brandon Jennings (LB) a transfer portal player from Maryland. 

The defense will take a step back with younger players but the offense should be explosive. I just hope Harbaugh can see that JJ is the future and you do not want to lose him to the portal. I think they can beat MSU on the road but probably not OSU on the road. I see a 10-2 or 9-3 season if they lose to one of the road games they should win.

I think we are underestimating the loss of Hutch and Ojabo. How many times did they force a false start or holding penalty that put the offense behind the chains? How many sacks and tfl’s came from those two alone? Not to mention the fumbles and rushed throws. Ask osu fans how different their defense looked once they didn’t have a Bosa or Chase Young creating havoc every play.

Our defense won’t be the same next year, but the offense has the potential to be significantly better. It’s all going to come down to our trip to Columbus. I have no idea how good/bad they will be next year.

I am excited about the possibilities, but I think there's a very real chance that a sophomore JJ remains pretty unpolished--at times, maddening. He's got some tendencies that he's going to have to suppress. I also think that it's possible that, given Cade's own additional ceiling, McNamara is the early-season starter or the two are still splitting responsibilities heading toward mid-season.  

Has there been any discussion on whether Moody is planning on staying? No way our next kicker is as consistent. Robbins would be huge to get for another year as well. Not sure what either specialist plans to do since they have the extra Covid eligibility. Moody has NFL talent though and winning the Groza might put his stock as high as it can go. 

The offense can absolutely be better.

1) All the wideouts are coming back, and Ronnie Bell is back. 

2) Losing Haskins will hurt but it’s not inconceivable that the RB room will be even better with Corum and Edwards leading the way next Fall. 

3) Regardless of who starts between McNamara and McCarthy, they will be a year older and a year better. I do believe McCarthy could take a big leap forward if this year is any indication. 

4) Losing Vastardis will hurt but his replacement is a Rimington finalist. We may even find a way to upgrade at Center. But there’s quite a bit of talent on the OL and Moore did a fantastic job this year. 

The challenges, though, will be on defense. You’re losing Hutchinson, Ross, Dax, and most likely Ojabo. Hinton and Mazi are back and will likely get better but we’ll have to see by how much. If Ojabo doesn’t come back then the DE position is a big fat question mark. There is young talent for sure, and Will Johnson coming in will be a huge boost for the secondary, but Michigan is going to have to find answers on defense that it doesn’t currently have. 

Hutchinson and Ojabo papered over a lot of issues this year. How many teams even attempted to throw down field on us this year? I have a feeling the pass defense would have been pretty grim again if QBs had more that 2s in the pocket because of those two, and/or another eligible receiver or two were releasing downfield instead of staying back to chip block.

I think the offense has a chance to take a big step up if JJ can shed most of his freshman tendencies. No disrespect to Cade, he's the guy that wins you the games you should win, but JJ's upside has the potential to transform the offense completely. 

Harrell is a star in the making and will cover for Ojabo. The biggest issue I see is at LB. The new center should cover for Vastardis and then some.  Edwards isn't Haskins but great in other ways and the offense will change because of it.   Our season will hinge on the LB play. 

Hutch covered up a lot of holes with his ability to make qbs get rid of the ball immediately. 

My concern is that we thought the basketball team would be just as good this year as last year.  You just never know how things are going to turn out. The senior leadership on this year's team was unrivaled. 

I think we will be better (appear, game in/game out, much more in control of each game and with the obviously better team), but with the chance for a letdown game due to lofty praises and players possibly reading their own press clippings. 
 

I think defense should be better overall with players across the board being overall more athletic and one more year in the system. I expect more creative blitz packages next year. They will better against screens, likely the pass, run fits, dline moshing chaos, TE’s over the middle, and stuff to the edge, and our good defensive days against better competition won’t rely solely on whether or not Aiden and Ojabo are getting home a lot. Also, I think some DE will step up as a very good pass rusher as that has been the trend with Harbaugh DE’s….obviously no Hutchinson, and just maaayyyyybbbbbeeeeee last night convinced Ojabo to stay, not likely, but maybe. 

Th offense could be improved provided the new OL can gel.  Tons of talent coming back at QB and skill positions.

I am interested to see how McDonald remakes the defense without Ojabo and Hutchinson…

I also think the line has a chance to be better. I was hard on the oline pass protection at times this year. Yes they won an award, but I still thought they lacked at times in pass pro.